CHESTER - A legislative committee looking at ways to improve child safety within the state's child protection services heard from a number of grandparents, foster parents and child care advocates today who said the Department for Children and Families and the court system need to do more to protect children's welfare.

During an hour-long hearing at the Chester Town Hall, the nine members of the Committee on Child Protection heard from about 10 speakers critical of the current system.

Almost every speaker shared a personal horror story about abused children who continued to suffer in the child protective services system after they were removed from their parents' care.

A common refrain from speakers was a need for more training among DCF employees, greater supervision of children in foster care and changes to the family court system that decides when children can be removed from a home, when they can be returned and what kind of conditions parents and foster families must abide by.

The hearing in Chester was one of three stops for the committee today. A 2:30 p.m. hearing at the Park House activity room in Manchester will be followed by a hearing at 6 p.m. at the Rutland High School theater.